I need help choosing my 1st Mesa

[KingEdB]

1st my introduction....

hi, my name is Ed. i am a 32 year old home player looking for the most versatile mesa combo. i play a les paul.

my budget is around $1000. i have no problem buying used. my space in the home is limited so i am looking for one amp that can do everything at bedroom levels. i know that there has to be some compromise. i would have no problem adding a pedal or too to get me into the thrash zone.

one of my favorite bands is Tool, but i like to play everything from bb king to metallica.

can anyone suggest a combo? or a combo and a pedal? whichever combination that would get me everything.

thanks in advance!!

-Ed

 

[siggy14]

Honestly with your price range I would find either a DC series or a used recto combo.

1st my introduction....

hi, my name is Ed. i am a 32 year old home player looking for the most versatile mesa combo. i play a les paul.

my budget is around $1000. i have no problem buying used. my space in the home is limited so i am looking for one amp that can do everything at bedroom levels. i know that there has to be some compromise. i would have no problem adding a pedal or too to get me into the thrash zone.

one of my favorite bands is Tool, but i like to play everything from bb king to metallica.

can anyone suggest a combo? or a combo and a pedal? whichever combination that would get me everything.

thanks in advance!!

-Ed

 

[155]

get used f 50 or f30 and youll have money left over!

 

[KingEdB]

thanks!!

i can actually spend up to $2000, but the wife would be much more comfortable with 1k.

 

[TFridgen]

Roadster combo, deelicious. I'm still trying to figure out a safe way to make love to it.

 

[Hellaboogie]

If your set on a combo, I would suggest a trem o verb combo as it's a very good amp and will have no problem covering your range of playing, I've seen these go anywhere from $800 - $1200

 

[domct203]

Roadster combo, deelicious. I'm still trying to figure out a safe way to make love to it.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's great man!

Yea, I ...... uh ........ love my Roadster too.

Dom

 

[Elpelotero]

you've got deceptively tough criteria. For example, it's best to play BB king on a Lonestar, Tool on a Rectifier, and Metallica on a Mark-series.

Given the above 3 musicians, I would give a +1 to the Tremoverb. It has great cleans (but not like a Lonestar), does Tool very well (it's a recto), and Metallica fairly well (especially for newer Metallica. you can add a pedal to tighten it up for older stuff).

Unfortunately this is a loud amp meant to be cranked up. If you can find a way around this, it's what I would suggest.

 

[MusicManJP6]

All Mesas are loud - let's clear that up right off the bat - even a 20 watt DC-2 is still going to be freakin' loud! That being said I think the DC series would be a good bet. Most people say the DC-10 is the golden model of the series.

I have been happy with my Stiletto Ace combo! It is very versatile IMO.

 

[Jak0lantern01]

I like my Stiletto also. I'm playing Metallica, Guns, Tool, modern and classic rock and metal with the thing. I just threw an EQ in there if I needed a boomier bass sound. Plenty of gain to go around.

 

[JW123]

I won a Triple Rec, a Roadster Combo, and a Subway Rocket.

I play 3-5 gigs a month. Lately Ive gone to the Little Rocket 20 watts 2 EL-84 tubes 10 inch speaker. This amp sounds as good as any of my bigger amps.

I use Classic 1960 Reissue Les Pauls and I find the Roadster to be spikey sounding. Its a great amp but Ive been unable to get an acceptable sound out of it consistently, the Rectifier is just too big and too loud. Ive tryed Yellow Jackets and also a Weber Mass attenuator. With EL-34s and the Weber I have found some really great tones in this amp, but I just hate lugging it around.

The Rocket is as basic as an amp can be and just sounds better. I can crank it up for gig volume and turn it down for bedroom level playing. On recordings and live it just eats my other amps lunch, and Ive changed tubes, everything under the sun on my bigger amps but for the money the little amp just rocks.

They dont make the Rocket anymore, but they do make the Express 5:25 in its place. I would suggest you try this before buying some huge amp. This amp can be run at 5 watts so it will work at bedroom level and if you ever do venture out and do a gig turn it to the 25 watt setting and it will work great.

Dont let all the gear heads on here steer you wrong for a simple amp that has great tone try an Express before you buy some of the others mentioned. I may sell my Roadster ad pick up an Express myself in the near future.

 

[Strat N My Stuff]

I recognize that for Tool and that end of the spectrum the LSS isn't choice one, but I find it quite versatile and the 5-15-30 watt choice works well for me, though I do live in a house. To reach more crunch or drive I think a Tube screamer would probably help push channel two as far as you might want. I myself have found workable tone to play STP, Tonic, Creed and stuff like that. I guess that is slightly different than Tool. I was amazed at what the right tubes and humbucker pups with the thicker setting can reach.

I should admit that I spend more time playing the Stones and Allman Bros. and similar "classic rock", between both channels I have found the LSS works for me. I don't play much BB King, but I would say that sound is there too. I think a used one would run $1,400.00 or so.

I might have to agree that to get the really good sounds, volume is required. If you get to open it up now and then, it would be worth having a tube amp. I have a Fender Princeton Chorus that I used for years before buying my LSS. Haven't played it in two years. Later, J

 

[KingEdB]

thanks for all the suggestions guys!!!

i have narrowed it down to the express and lonestar series for volume reasons. i will be able to open it up. luckily neighbors aren't an issue. with that said i am still not looking to crank a 100w amp in my home.

while i know you can't all of these tones without help of some sort. i am trying to figure out which route would be easier/better. get a clean amp and add pedals? or an amp that will give you great distortion that has "respectable" cleans? i think i may lean toward the gain side. i have to get out and try a bunch.

i appreciate your input!!! thanks again!

 

[kiff]

you should consider a mark4. it's the most versatile of the mark series (so far), has a very tight crunch and has many power amp/section options (tweed/full power and triode/pentode settings).

 

[dodger916]

you should consider a mark4. it's the most versatile of the mark series (so far), has a very tight crunch and has many power amp/section options (tweed/full power and triode/pentode settings).

+1, and can sound great at low volumes. You'll need to spend over a grand, although after NAMM, who knows?

 

[JW123]

A Mark IV is way more than a bedroom player needs.

On ebay these days the nice combos run in the 1000-1600 range. I dont think for what this guy was asking it is a good choice. The one I borrowed was finicky as hell even more finicky than my Roadster Combo, which on paper should be a fantastic amp, but in my opinion and thats my opinion doesnt get to where I want to be tone wise. Too ice picky.

A smaller amp in the line of an Express or maybe the Lonestar that can be turned down to 5 watts would be a better choice.

Before you guys make suggestions you should really look at what the poster is asking for. Not everyone wants or needs the biggest **** that Mesa makes, in fact most of you bedroom players on here are crazy for owning anything over 30 watts. You just dont need it unless you use an attenuator and then your just clamping down the amp. I know Ive done that.

Smaller amps sound better. You can open em up and let them do what they are supposed to do, SING!

Putting a rectifier or roadster or roadking in the bedroom is like driving a Porsche down a bullevard with 100 traffic lights. I know about that also, just so you know where Im coming from.

Another cool little amp for great tone is a Soldano Subatomic combo I think its called, 16 watts and has that big ass Soldano gain section in it, without the high cost of entry.

Actually for bedroom playing you guys should do what I did. I found a POD PRO on ebay with the footswitch for 150 bucks. Just put headphones on, the Mesa Rec tone in there sucks, Ive never gotten it to sound like I hear a Rec when I play my Triple, but the JCM 800 sound with a little tweaking is to die for. Ive used it live straight into a pa and it works great.

I think most folks on here just want the biggest thing they can get, and if you are a heavy metal player that may be what you need, I love my triple for the really heavy stuff, nothing else gets that tone and volume, but I said volume, in the real world you cant use that volume. My little 20 watter does the job in 100-500 seat rooms better than any of my big ****.

I wish you all luck in your quest for tone, but remember one really goos sounding tone on your amp is really all you need with a decent guitar. Just roll the volume off for cleans and crank it up for leads and heavy sounds. Simple is better.

 

[clutch71]

First off Welcome to the Board. Here, wether you like it or not, you'll find all the opinions you need.

I too am a home player and I've been through my several amps before keeping the current one the longest with no plans of it going anywhere, and only slightly modified it.

For bedroom use IME amps designed for 100w are meant to be played at that level. The Roadster is a great amp but thought it lacked the mojo at 50w and lowered volume. Retifiers are a looser feeling amp anyway and really sag when played at lower volumes.

I owned an old 2 ch dual rec, put El34's in it pulled two power tubes and 1 rectifier tube. Slammed the front end with a tube screamer and it still wouldn't do quiet. A buddy of mine had a Tremoverb and it was the same way.

I've only played one Mark IV. Took nearly two years to find one and sit down with it. In the hour I spent with it, I loved it, but thought I'd have a hard time taming in for around the house.

The express...I've never personally liked and feel that Tool and Metallica would be difficult to pull off. The BB King would be just fine.

No real experience with the Lone Star.

The Rectoverb is a great amp. 50w great cleans, great saturation and throw a good OD out front and it will tighten up nicely. Passable at lower volumes. Of all the amps I've owned, I really miss this one. The only thing I think it lacks compared to a dual IMO is the channel assignable loop. I never used Bold/Spongy and only noticed the difference in tube/sd with EL's at cranked tones.

With all that said here's my suggestions for bedroom tube amps...
Used - Peavey Bravo. 20w, 2 channels, EL84 power section, 3 12AX7's, Reverb, fan cooled and series loop. $175-$250. The combo speaker is crap but hook it up to a 2x12 Rectifier cab and it's a beast. Used Rectifier cab - $350. I bought one for my little brother and a buddy has one converted to a head. Cleans are lacking though.
New - Egnater Rebel - Head, 1 to 20w (blendable), 2 6V6's or 2 EL84's (blendable, kind of a cool feature) 3 12AX7's, 2 channels and series loop. Comes with Groove Tubes. Good looking piece of equipment. Almost bought one $599. Made in China though.

Other's I've read about but no experience with...
Subway Rocket
Orange Tiny Terror - Never played one but really like Orange amps and the clips I've heard are great.
BlackStar HT
Black Heart
Bum Box.

 

[Animeka]

Roadster combo, deelicious. I'm still trying to figure out a safe way to make love to it.

Make sure you unplug it first...

 

[dodger916]

A Mark IV is way more than a bedroom player needs.

Perhaps, but the poster wants a high degree of versatility, so a Mark IV will fit that bill. I'm always amazed at the sounds I can get at ridiculously low volumes.

 

[Pundix]

+1 I've been playing a MkIV for years and while it does sound better cranked, it also sounds good when turned to extremely low volumes. With a little tweaking the MkIV can get almost any sound at almost any volume.

A Mark IV is way more than a bedroom player needs.

Perhaps, but the poster wants a high degree of versatility, so a Mark IV will fit that bill. I'm always amazed at the sounds I can get at ridiculously low volumes.